Method for replacing printing sleeves in a printing press

ABSTRACT

A process for replacing the printing sleeves of a printing machine includes mounting printing sleeves that are not required for the printing process in at least one storage device. The transportation of the printing sleeves necessary for replacement between the storage device and the printing machine is performed by a transportation device. The transportation device has printing sleeve retaining devices that bring the printing sleeves into a position that facilitates their replacement. The arrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportation device is determined by a processing and control unit to which set positions of the printing sleeves during the next printing job are known. The processing and control unit adjusts the arrangement of the printing sleeves such that at least one printing sleeve retaining device remains free in the transportation device.

This is a nationalization of PCT/EP04/000411 filed 14 Jan. 2004 andpublished in German.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a process for replacing printing sleeves in aprinting machine in which printing sleeves that are not required for theprinting process are mounted in at least one storage device. Thetransportation of the printing sleeves necessary for replacement betweenthe storage device and the printing machine is performed by at least onetransportation device that has printing sleeve retaining devices whichbring the printing sleeves into a position that facilitates theirreplacement.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The invention relates to a process for replacing printing sleeves in aprinting machine according to the generic term of claim 1.

For the processing of printing jobs it is frequently necessary toreplace the printing motifs of the print rollers of a printing machine.For the purpose of being able to execute this job changeover as quicklyand easily as possible, frequently only the printing sleeves carryingthe printing motifs and lying on the roller mandrels are replaced.

The unpublished patent application DE 102 23 414 suggests atransportation device for printing sleeves with several carryingmandrels for accommodating the printing sleeves. Every two adjoiningcarrying mandrels have a distance between them that corresponds to thedistance of the print roller and the anilox roller in their set-uppositions. Both these carrying mandrels form one row inside thetransportation device. The transportation device can be coupled to alifting device by means of which it can move horizontally and verticallywith respect to the printing machine.

If a printing sleeve is supposed to be replaced, the operating personnelmust first equip the transportation device with the printing sleeves tobe inserted into the printing machine. The operating personnel also hasto position the transport device with the help of the lifting device infront of the printing unit in which the printing sleeves to be replacedare located, so that two free carrying mandrels are positioned in frontof the print rollers. Then the printing sleeves located on the printroller mandrels can be pulled out by the operating personnel.Subsequently, the transportation device is placed in a new position inorder to bring the printing sleeves into a suitable position for fittingthem on the roller mandrels. Then the printing sleeves can be fitted. Ifnecessary, the process is carried out similarly for additional printingunits.

In the described process for the replacement of printing sleeves of aprinting machine, the operating personnel equips the transportationdevice without observing any predetermined arrangement of the printingsleeves. Thus the operating personnel must independently plan thearrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportation device. Thisarrangement is in part disadvantageous for the set-up process.Additionally, it also entails the risk of an erroneous allocation of theprinting sleeves to the roller mandrels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore the task of the present invention is to suggest a process forreplacing printing sleeves in printing machines that simplifies theprocess of replacement of printing sleeves.

According to the invention, this task is solved by the features of theinvention as described herein.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the arrangement of theprinting sleeves in the transportation device is determined by aprocessing and control unit. In doing so, the arrangement of theprinting sleeves is adjusted in such a manner that at least one printingsleeve retaining device in the transportation device remains free. Theprocessing and control unit takes into account all the relevant printingsleeves. Thus not only those that are supposed to be supplied to theprinting machine are taken into account but also those that have to beled away from the printing machine and supplied to the storage device.As a basis for the determination of the arrangement of the printingsleeves, the processing and control unit uses data about the setpositions of the individual printing sleeves for processing the newprinting job as well as data about the actual positions of the printingsleeves in the printing machine. Even data about the positions of theprinting sleeves in the storage device can be known to the processingand control unit.

Advantageously the process and control unit determines the arrangementof the printing sleeves in the transportation device in such a mannerthat every row contains at least one empty printing sleeve retainingdevice and at least one new printing sleeve required for the newprinting job. Each row of the transportation device is thus assigned toa definite printing unit. Thus for each printing unit at least one emptyprinting sleeve retaining unit is provided. If for instance, theprinting unit is arranged horizontally, the printing sleeve retainingdevices can also be arranged horizontally. In this case, after aprinting sleeve of a processed printing job is pushed off, only thetransportation device must be displaced horizontally in order to reach aposition in which a new printing sleeve can be fitted on the rollermandrel.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing andcontrol unit determines the arrangement of the printing sleeves in thetransportation device in such a manner that one row of printing sleeveretaining devices remains free and the other rows contain the printingsleeves assigned to the respective printing units. In this case thusfirstly all printing sleeves of a printing unit are removed by theroller mandrels. Thereafter, the transportation device is displacedvertically so that the new printing sleeves assigned to the relatedprinting unit can be brought into a position that is suitable for thereplacement.

It is particularly advantageous if the arrangement of the printingsleeves in the transportation-device determined by the processing andcontrol unit is indicated on a display unit. A monitor can be providedas a display unit. However, even other means for indicating thearrangement are suitable for this purpose, for instance, printouts froma printer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement of theprinting sleeves in the transportation device determined by theprocessing and control unit is executed by the operating personnel. Forthis purpose the operating personnel removes the corresponding printingsleeves from the storage device and arranges them in the transportationdevice according to the arrangement indicated on the display unit.

It is particularly advantageous if the processing and control unit hasinterfaces to actuators of the storage and/or transportation device andcontrols them in such a manner that they carry out the transfer, atleast in part, between the two said devices. For this purpose, theprocessing and control unit has access to data that contains thepositions of every individual printing sleeve in the storage device. Inthis manner the transportation device can be equipped with printingsleeves without permutation. The printing sleeves that are removed fromthe printing machine and transported in the transport device aresupplied in the similar manner to the storage device, wherein the datacontaining the positions of the printing sleeves remain accessible forthe processing and control unit. A data memory connected to theprocessing and control unit can be used for this purpose.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the processing and control unit hasinterfaces to actuators of the transportation device and/or the printingmachine and controls them in such a manner that they execute at least inpart the transfer between the two said devices. A control of this typeserves for the automatic transfer of the transportation device to theprinting machine and back. Moreover, the control can comprise thecoupling and decoupling of the transportation-device to and/or from alifting device as well as the movement of the transportation device withrespect to the printing machine.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing and controlunit, on the basis of the arrangement of the printing sleeves in thetransportation device determined by it, controls the position of thetransportation device with respect to the printing machine in such amanner that empty printing sleeve retaining devices are brought into aremoval position to the roller mandrels that are loaded with theprinting sleeves to be replaced and subsequently the printing sleeveretaining devices loaded with the new printing sleeves are brought intothe replacement position. In this course of action, the operatingpersonnel can first remove a printing sleeve of the already processedprinting job from the roller mandrel and fit it on an empty printingsleeve retaining device. If the operating personnel of the processingand control unit has indicated the completion of this activity, forinstance, by means of a key press, then the processing and control unitcontrols the actuators in such a manner that the printing sleeve of thenew printing job that is supposed to be fitted on the roller mandrel isbrought into the replacement position. This process is carried out forall roller mandrels from which a printing sleeve is supposed to beremoved and/or on which a printing sleeve is supposed to be fitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a printing machine that is set up as per the processaccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

The printing machine 1 comprises two side frames of which the front sideframe 2 can be seen in the FIGURE. From the front side frame 2, severalprinting units are accessible of which two printing units 3, 4 areillustrated as an example. From the printing unit 3, both the bearingblocks 22 can be seen located in their distant positions so that theprint roller 5 and the anilox roller 6 are accessible. The print roller5 comprises substantially of the roller mandrel 8 and the printingsleeve 7 fitted on it. The anilox roller 6 is set up similarly.

In order to reach the lower printing units, of which only the printingunit 4 is illustrated, the footbridge 10 that is mounted in the pedestal12 can be displaced along the arrow A. Moreover any of the twostaircases 11 can be folded.

Furthermore, the printing machine comprises a lifting device 15 withwhich a transportation device 13 can move with respect to the printingmachine 1. A horizontal movement is possible due to a slide rail 17 thatis attached to the side frame 2. A rope winch 16 that is mounteddisplaceably on the slide rail 17, serves for lifting the transportdevice 13.

For setting up the printing machine 1 for a new printing job, theoperating personnel can first give information about the new printingjob to the processing and control unit 19 via a keyboard 21.Subsequently the processing and control unit computes the arrangement ofthe printing sleeves in the transportation device 13. Now the operatingpersonnel 9 must equip the transportation device 13 in a manner that isnot illustrated in closer detail according to the arrangement determinedby the processing and control unit 19. For this purpose this arrangementis displayed on the monitor 20. Subsequently, the operating personnel 9goes to the first printing unit 3 from which the printing sleeves 7 haveto be removed. The processing and control unit 19 controls the liftingdevice 15 via the control line 18 in such a manner that a free carryingmandrel 14 of the transportation device 13 is brought into a positionthat makes it possible to pull out a printing sleeve 7 from the rollermandrel 8. After the displacement of the printing sleeve 7 from theroller mandrel 8 onto the carrying mandrel 14, the operating personnel 9activates a pushbutton that is not illustrated in the FIGURE. Theprocessing and control unit 19 now controls the lifting device 15 sothat a carrying mandrel 14 on which a new printing sleeve 7 is present,takes up a replacement position. After the displacement of this printingsleeve 7, the operating personnel 9 reactivate the pushbutton that isnot illustrated in the FIGURE.

The described course of action is carried out for all additional printand/or anilox rollers 5, 6 that have to be equipped for the new printingjob.

The invention being thus described, it will be apparent that the samemay be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be recognized by one skilled in the art areintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

List of reference symbols 1 Printing machine 2 Side frame 3 Printingunit 4 Printing unit 5 Print roller 6 Anilox roller 7 Printing sleeve 8Roller mandrel 9 Operating personnel 10 Footbridge 11 Staircase 12Pedestal 13 Transportation device (conveyor) 14 support mandrel 15Lifting device 16 Rope winch 17 Slide rail 18 Control line 19 Processingand control unit 20 Monitor 21 Keyboard 22 Bearing block 23 24 Adisplacement direction of the footbridge 10 x, y Moving directions ofthe lifting device 15

1. A process for changing printing sleeves of a printing machine,comprising: mounting the printing sleeves that are not required for aprinting process in at least one storage device; transporting theprinting sleeves necessary for replacement between the storage deviceand the printing machine with at least one transportation device havingprinting sleeve retaining devices that bring the printing sleeves into aposition for replacement; determining an arrangement of the printingsleeves in the transportation device with a processing and control unitto which set positions of the printing sleeves in the printing machineduring a next printing job are known; adjusting with the processing andcontrol unit the arrangement of the printing sleeves such that at leastone printing sleeve retaining device remains free in the transportationdevice; and controlling with the processing and control unit, based onthe determined arrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportationdevice, a position of printing sleeves accommodation devices in thetransportation device such that (i) empty printing sleeve retainingdevices are brought into a removal position to roller mandrels that areloaded with the printing sleeves to be replaced, and (ii) subsequentlythe printing sleeve retaining devices loaded with the new printingsleeves are brought into the replacement position.
 2. The processaccording to claim 1 wherein the processing and control unit determinesthe arrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportation devicesuch that every row of the transportation device contains at least oneempty printing sleeve retaining device and at least one new printingsleeve required for the new printing job.
 3. The process according toclaim 1 wherein the processing and control unit determines thearrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportation device suchthat one row of the transportation device remains free of printingsleeve retaining devices and other rows contain the printing sleevesassigned to respective printing units.
 4. The process according to claim1 wherein the arrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportationdevice determined by the processing and control unit is indicated on adisplay unit.
 5. The process according to claim 1 wherein thearrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportation devicedetermined by the processing and control unit is carried out byoperating personnel.
 6. The process according to claim 1 wherein theprocessing and control unit interfaces with and controls the storageand/or transportation device.
 7. The process according to claim 1wherein the processing and control unit interfaces with and controls thestorage and/or transportation device and/or the printing machine.
 8. Anapparatus for the replacement of printing sleeves in a printing machinecomprising: a storage device in which the printing sleeves that are notrequired for a printing process are mounted; at least one transportationdevice that transports the printing sleeves necessary for replacementbetween the storage device and the printing machine, the transportationdevice including printing sleeve retaining devices that bring theprinting sleeves into a position for replacement and the transportationdevice being configured to adjust an arrangement of the printing sleevessuch that at least one printing sleeve retaining device remains free inthe transportation device; and a processing and control unit thatdetermines the arrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportationdevice and controls, based on the determined arrangement of the printingsleeves in the transportation device, a position of printing sleevesaccommodation devices in the transportation device such that (i) emptyprinting sleeve retaining devices are brought into a removal position toroller mandrels that are loaded with the printing sleeves to bereplaced, and (ii) the printing sleeve retaining devices loaded with thenew printing sleeves are brought into the replacement position.
 9. Theapparatus according to claim 8 wherein the arrangement of the printingsleeves in the transportation device determined by the processing andcontrol unit is indicated on a display unit.
 10. The apparatus accordingto claim 8 wherein the processing and control unit determines thearrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportation device suchthat every row of the transportation device contains at least one emptyprinting sleeve retaining device and at least one new printing sleeverequired for the new printing job.
 11. The apparatus according to claim8 wherein the processing and control unit determines the arrangement ofthe printing sleeves in the transportation device such that one row ofthe transportation device remains free of printing sleeve retainingdevices and other rows contain the printing sleeves assigned torespective printing units.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 8wherein the arrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportationdevice determined by the processing and control unit is carried out byoperating personnel.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein theprocessing and control unit interfaces with and controls the storageand/or transportation device.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 8wherein the processing and control unit interfaces with and controls thestorage and/or transportation device and/or the printing machine.